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(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1.

'L; G. WILGOX. MACHINE FOR BENDING RODS FOR BIT BRAOBS. No. 425,157. Patented Apr. 8. 1890.

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(No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. O. WILOOX.

MAOHINE FOR BENDING RODS FOR BIT BRAOES. No. 425,157. A Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

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U ITED STATES PATENT Curios.

LEWIS C. \VILCOX, OF BUFFALO, NENV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN BIT BRACE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR BENDING RODS FOR BlT-BRACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,157, dated April 8, 1890. Application filed July 19, 1889. Serial No. 318,053. (N modeld To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, LEWIS O. WILooX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bit -Brace-Bending Machines, of which the following is 'a specification.

This invention relates to that class of bending-machines which are employed forbending 1o bit-brace rods to form the crank or sweep of the brace which carries the handle whereby the brace is turned, the handle being secured to the central portion of the rod, and the two end portions of the rod carrying, respectively,

the head and the bit stock or socket.

The object of my invention is to construct a machine of this character which will enable a number of brace-rods to be bent at a single operation and in which the machine can be adjusted for bending brace-rods of different sizes.

Theinvention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved bit-bracebending machine. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof in line a: 0:, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section in line y y, Fig. 1, looking in the opposite direction. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of the saddle block and clamp, upon which the blank bit-brace rods are supported, showing the clamp in a closed position, the section being in line ,2 .2, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the saddle block and clamp. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section in line to to, Fig. 1. Fig. 7

is an elevation of a bit-brace rod after having been bent by my improved machine.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A A represent the vertical end frames of the machine, which are connected near their upper ends by cross-frames a, and near their lower ends by cross-frames a. I

B represents the driving-shaft, journaled in bearings 19, supported on a bracket 1), secured to the outer side of the side frame A,

and B the drivingpulley secured to the shaft B.

C represents a crank-shaft, mounted in bearings formed in the upper ends of the frames A A, and provided at opposite ends 5 5 with cranks c. The crank-shaft C is geared with the driving-shaft B by a gear-wheel C and a pinion C The pinion C is mounted loosely on the shaft B and is provided on its outer side with a clutch-face c, which engages with a movable clutch-collar c keyed to the driving-shaft. The clutch-collar c is moved on the shaft toward and from the pinion by means of a depending clutch-lever I), which is connected with atreadle E. The lever D is pivoted at its upper end to a standard cl, secured'to the bracket 1), and engages with its lower bifurcated end in an annular recess on the collar 0 The treadle E is connected with the lower bifurcated end of the clutch- 7o lever D by rods 6 e and an elbow-lever 6 The clutch c is moved toward the pinion C and held in engagement therewith upon depressing the treadle E.

e is a spring connected at one end to the upper arm of the elbow-lever e and at its opposite end to the bracket 1 and whereby the clutch-collar o is held out of engagement with the pinion C when the treadle E is released.

6 represents a stop secured to the outer side of the wheel C adjacent to the clutchlever D and having an inclined advancing face, which is adapted to engage against an inwardly-project-ing lug e secured to the clutch-lever D and move the latter outwardly, so as to automatically disengage the clutchcollar 0 from the pinion C at each revolution of the crankshaft.

F represents a vertically-movable follower arranged in the lower portion of the machine and guided at opposite ends in vertical ways f formed in the side frames A A.

F represents connecting-rods arranged 011 the outer sides of the frames A A and attached at their upper ends to the cranks c of the crank-shaft, and at their lower ends to the outer ends of the follower F. The fol lower, when in its lowest position, rests with its lower edge upon the bottom of the ways f I00 in the side frames of the machine. cylindrical endsf of the follower are preferably arranged in vertically-sliding boxes f which move in elongated openings 1'' formed in the lower ends of the connecting-rods F.

f represents removable gage-blocks arranged in the openings f of the connectingrods F below the boxes f and which engage against the latter and raise the follower when the connecting-rods F are moved upwardly. The thickness or height of the bloeksf" or the number of these blocks maybe increased or diminished to vary the.upward movement of the follower in accordance with the radius of the sweep of the bit-brace to be bent. The dead upward movement of the connecting rods is increased by lengthening the space between the boxes f and the gage-blocks f and decreased by reducing this space. It is obvious that adj usting-serews may be employed instead of the gage-blocks,if desired.

G represents a rectangular saddle or supporting block removably secured to the upper central portion of the follower F by a dovetail and groove 9.

G represents a transverse clamping-frame arranged upon the saddle G, and whereby the brace-rods to be bent are securely held in place upon the saddle G. As shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, this clamping-frame consists of two horizontal supporting-jaws g g, which rest upon opposite sides of the upper portion of the saddle G, with their outer vertical faces arranged in line with the vertical faces of the saddle, and two upper removable jaws g arranged above the supporting-jaws g g and hinged at their rearcnds to the lower jaws g by plates g. The opposite or front ends of the hinged jaws 1 g are locked in place upon the lower jaws by yokes or clamps g. The bifurcated port-ions of the yokes g" straddle the outer contracted ends of the upper jaws g and are pivoted to the lower jaws by trans verse pins 9 The upper jaws g are preferably connected by a cross-bar g", so that both jaws are raised and lowered at the same time toward and from the. lower supporting-jaws.

The clamping-jaws g g are provided on their opposing faces with recesses g corre sponding to the contour of the collars which hold the handle of thebit-brace in place upon the brace-rod, and with openings 7 through which the brace-rod passes, and whereby the latter is firmly held against displacement. The supporting-jawsg are held against movementupon the saddle by dowel-pins g, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4,) and bya shoulder g formed on the upper portion of the saddle G.

H II represent two cross-heads arranged on opposite sides of the saddle G, and supported at their front and rear ends upon horizontal guide rods H secured to the end frames A A. The cross heads II II are adapted to be moved transversely toward and from the saddle G.

h 71. represent die-carrying plates arranged underneath the lower flat ends of the cross- The outer,

heads ll ll, respectively, and which move upon ways or guides h formed on the inner sides of the lower cross-frame a of the machine.

h represents rectangular die blocks arranged side by side, on the lower inner side of the cross-head ll, and fitting snugly between the lower flat side of the cross-head H and the upper flat side of the carrying-plate h. The latter is provided on its upper side with ribs or flanges between which the die-blocks are seated and held against displacement. Each die-block is provided with a cylindrical opening it for the reception of one end of the bit-brace rod. The outer ends of the die-block abut against a depending shoulder it formed on the cross-head. H, and the carrying-plate it, upon which the blocks 7&3 are supported, is secured to the cross-head H by a strap 727, and moves withthe crosshead.

'i represents a die'block secured to the opposite die -carrying plate 71 and provided with a series of openings t" for the reception of the opposite end of the bit-brace rods. The rear end of this die-block abuts against a depending shoulder II formed on the lower side of the cross'head II.

11 represents a depending linger seen red to the inner side of the crosshead H, and hearing with its lower end against the inner side of the die-block i, and wherebythe latter and the carrying-plate 71/ are caused to move outward] y with the cross-head. The openings in the die-block '11 are arranged opposite the openings in the die-blocks h", and these openings are also in line with the recesses in the clamping-jaws, so that a number of bit-brace rods can be secured in place and be bent at one operation.

J J representtwo rock-levers arranged vertieally between the side frames A A, and pivoted about midway of their length to the upper cross-frames (t of themaehine by transverse boltsj. The lower ends of the levers J J are pivoted to the cross-heads II II by transverse pinsj, which pass through clongated openingsj formed in the bifurcated lower ends of the levers J J, and through the cross-heads.

K represents a V-shaped cam-disk secured to the crank-shaft C centrally between the end frames A A, and which is adapted to engage with its outer opposite sides against the inner upper ends of the levers J J, so as to move the upper ends of both the levers J .l outwardly and the lower ends of the levers and the cross-heads H H. inwardly toward each other. The movement of the follower F is so timed with reference to the cam K that when the narrow portion of the cam K is located between the upper ends of the levers J J the follower F and cross-heads ll ll are at rest and in position for inserting and removing the brace-rods, as shown in Fig. 1.

Z represents a spiral spring connecting the upper end of the lever J with the side frame IIO . toward the cam K and the lower ends of these levers and-the cross-heads H H outwardly away from the clamping-frame G. The upper-end of each lever is preferably provided with an anti-friction roller m, which is journaled in an open frame m secured to the upper end-of the lever by set-screwsm passing through elongated openings m formed in the levers and engaging in threaded openings in the frame m'f This construction permits the roller to be adjusted toward and from the cam-disk K. j

N N represent horizontal adj usting-screws arranged in screwlthreadedopenings in the side frames A A, aridbearin g with their inner ends against the outer sides of the crossheads H H, whereby the outward movement of the cross-heads H H is limited to the length of the brace-rod to be bent. Upon adjusting the screws N N, so as to allow the cross-heads H H to move'floutwardly the distance between the two cross-heads is increased and permits a brace-rod of greater length to be inserted between the die-blocks. The

outer movement of the cross-heads causes theupper ends of the rock-levers to move inwardly toward the cam K and be acted upon sooner by the latter, and consequently move the cross -heads H H a greater distance. When the cross-heads have thus been adjusted, so as to increase their movement, the movement of the follower F is also adjusted by increasing the height of the gage-blocks so as to decrease the space or dead movement between the gage-blocks and the follower.

In the drawings a brace-rod of medium size is shown in position ready to be operated upon. When a rod of this gage orlength is to be bent, the upper ends of the rock-levers J J are held a short distance away from the cam K by the adjusting-screws N N-,*so that the cam K in its rotation will have a'partial dead movement before it engages against the levers J J. The connecting-rods Falsohave a partial dead upward movement before they raise the follower F. The follower Ffin all cases is so adjusted with reference to the-crossheads H H that it begins its upward movement so as to partially bend the central or handle portion of the rod before the cross heads H H begin their inward movement.

P represents cross-bars arranged on, the

- front and rear sides of the machine adjacent to the lower cross-bars a, and P represents depending yokes or frames attached :with their upper bent or curved portion towthe front and rear ends of the cross-heads H H. The lower open portions 1) of these frames straddle the cross-bars P and are provided at their lower ends with anti-friction rollers 19, hearing against the lower side of the cross bars P, and whereby the cross-head guiderods H are relieved from strain and held against upward-deflection. The shafts of the rollers 19 are mounted in boxes 19 arranged in vertical ways 19 of the frames P. p are adjusting-screws arranged in threaded openings in the lower open portion of the frames P and bearing against the lower side'of the boxes p whereby the parts can be adjuste for wear.

'When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the clamping-jaws g g are swung upwardly and backwardly so as to expose the lower clamping-bars g g, a brace-rod is secured in placein the following manner: The operator first removes the dieblock 71 and slips the same over the adjacent end of the bit-brace rod and moves the dieblock inwardly toward the fixed handle, which has been previously secured to the central portion'of the rod. He then inserts this end of the rod into the space between the crosshead H and the die-plate h until the opposite end of the rod stands opposite an opening 6 in the die-block 2'. He then again returns the die-block h into the space between the cross-head H and die-supporting plate It and inserts the opposite end of the rod into the opening 1" of the die-block 1' until the end of the rod strikes against the shoulder 1? of the follower H. J Having thussecured the ends of the rod in place, he raises the follower F and saddle G by turning the Wheel O by a hand-lever or other means until the support: ing clamping-jaws g g straddle the lower side of the rod. The upper clamping-bars are now swung downwardly and locked in place, as shown in Figf t, by the handles of the yokes .g, whereby the rod is firmly held in place against displacement. The treadle E is now depressed so as to engage the clutch c with the pinion O and cause the follower F to move upwardly and the cross-heads H'H to move inwardly on opposite sides of the ascending saddle G. This upward movement of the saddle G bends the center or handle retains his grip on the handle of the yokes g and swings the latter outwardly so as to unlock the clamping-frame G as soon as the saddle has reached the limit of its upward movement and the cross-heads H H the limit of their inward movement. The cam K will now permit the upper ends of the rock-levers J J to swing inwardly and move the crossheads H H outwardly, so as to release the bent rod from the dies h and t' and allow the rod to remain on the saddle G during its downward movement. This downward movement of the saddle G and outward movement of the cross-heads H H continues until the stop 6 engages against the lug e of the clutchlever D and disengages 'the clutch.

The inward movement of the cross-heads H 'H is sufficient to cause the radial arms of the bitbrace sweep to stand at or nearly at right angles to the handle portion. The die-blocks retain the ends of the rod in line, and the clamping-frame G serves to hold the center or handle portion of the rod parallel with the end portions during the bending operation, so that when the rod has been bent the handle portion and 'the end portions will be perfectly parallel.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a movable saddle and clamping jaws secured thereto and adapted to clamp the central portion of a bracerod, of cross-heads adapted to move toward and from the saddle and support the ends of the brace-rod, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a movable saddle provided with clamping-jaws for holding the central portion of the brace-rod, of movable cross-heads having recesses on their inner faces for supporting and holding the ends of the brace-rod during the movement of the saddle, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a movable saddle provided with clamping-jaws for holding the central portion of a brace-rod, of cross-heads arranged on opposite sides of the saddle and adapted to move toward and from the saddle, and removable blocks secured to said crossheads and adapted to receive and hold the ends of the brace-rod, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a movable saddle provided with clamping-jaws for holding the central portion of a brace-rod, of cross-heads arranged on opposite sides of the saddle and adapted to support the ends of the brace-rod, and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the cross-heads are moved toward each other during the movement of the saddle, substantially as set forth.

5. In a bending-machine, the combination, with a movable follower, a saddle supported thereon, and clamping-jaws secured to said saddle and adapted to support the central portion of a bracerod, of cross-heads arranged on opposite sides of the saddle and adapted to support the ends of the brace-rod, rocklevers pivoted to the frame and attached to the cross'heads, a crank-shaft connected with the follower, and a cam secured to the crankshaft and engaging with the rock-levers, whereby the cross-heads are moved toward each other during the movement of the follower, substantially as set forth.

(3. In a bending-machine, the combination, with the side frames A A, provided with vertical openings f, of a follower I supported in said openingsand provided at its opposite ends with journals f, a crank-shaft supported in hearings in the side frames A A, and connecting-rods secured to said shaft and provided with elongated openings, which receive the journals of the follower, substantially as set forth.

7 In a bending-machine, the combination, with the side frames A A, provided with vertical openings f, of a follower supported in said openings, a saddle and clamping-jaws secured to said follower, a crank-shaft journaled in bearings formed in the side frames, connecting-rods secured to said crank-shaft and provided with elongated openings, journals formed at opposite ends of the follower and mounted in movable boxes secured in the elongated openings of the follower, and removable guide-blocks also secured in the elongated openings of the follower between the removable boxes and the ends of said openings, substantially as set forth.

8. In a bending-machine, the combination, with the side frames'A A, connecting-frames a a, and cross-bars 11 of the cross-heads II II, supported on said cross-bars, rock-levers J J, pivoted to the cross-frame a and connected at their lower ends to said cross-heads, and a shaft C, provided with a cam K, which engages between the upper ends of said rocklevers, whereby the cross-heads are moved toward each other on said cross-bars, substantially as set forth.

9. In a bending-machine, the combination, with the side frames A A, connecting-frames a a, and eross-bars I1 of the cross-heads H H, mounted on said cross-bars, rock-levers J J,

pivoted to the cross-frame a, and attached with their lower ends to the cross-heads, a shaft 0, journaled in bearings, secured to the side frames and provided with a cam K, which engages between the upper ends of the rocklevers, whereby the crossheads are moved inwardly upon the cross-bars I1 and springs Z Z, connecting the upper ends of said rock-levers with the side frames, whereby the cross-heads are moved outwardly, substantially as set forth.

10. In a bending-machine, the combination, with the side frames A A, connecting-frames a a, and cross-bars 11 of cross-heads ll ll, mounted on said cross-bars, rock-levers J J, pivoted to the cross-frame a, and attached at their lower ends to the cross-heads, a shaft 0, journaled in bearings secured to the side frames and provided with a cam K, which engages between the upper ends of the rocklevers, whereby the cross-heads are moved inwardly, springs Z Z, whereby the cross-heads are moved outwardly, and adj usting-bolts N N secured to the side frames and adapted to limit the outward movement of said crossheads, substantially as set forth.

11. In abending-inachine, the combination, with the side frames AA and a followersupported in vertical openings formed in said side frames and carrying a saddle and clamp ing-jaws adapted to hold the center portion of the brace-rod, of cross-heads arranged on opposite sides of said clamping-jaws and adapted to hold the ends of said brace-rod, rock-levers pivoted at their lower ends to said cross-heads, a crank-shaft connected with the follower and provided with a cam which engages between the upper ends of the rocklevers, springs connecting said rock-levers with the side frames and adapted to hold the upper ends of said levers in contact with said cam, and a gear-Wheel mounted on the crankshaft and engaging with a gear-pinion mounted on a driving-shaft, whereby the cross-heads andfollower are actuated from th e crank-shaft, substantially as set forth.

12. In a bending-machine, the combination, with the side frames A A, and a follower supported in Vertical openings formed in said side frames and carrying a saddle and clamping-jaws adapted to hold the center portion of the brace-rod, of cross-heads arranged on opposite sides of said clamping-jaws and adapted to hold the ends of said brace-rod, rock-levers pivoted at their lower ends tosaid cross-heads, a crank-shaft connected with the follower and provided with a cam which engages the upper ends of said rock-levers, a gear-wheel secured to said crank-shaft and engaging with a gear-pinion mounted on a driving-shaft, whereby the cross-heads and followers are actuated, springs connecting said rock-levers with the side frames and adapted to hold the upper ends of said rocklevers in contact with said cam, and adjusting-bolts secured to the side frames and adapted to limit the outward movement of said cross-heads, substantially as set forth.

13. In abending-machine, the combination, with the side frames AA, and afollowcrsupported in vertical openings in said frame and carrying a saddle and clamping-jaws adapted to hold the center portion of a brace-rod, of cross-heads arranged npon opposite sides of said clamping-jaws and adapt-ed to hold the ends of said brace-rod, a crank-shaft journaled in bearings secured to said side frames, rods connecting the cranks of said shaft with the follower, a gear-Wheel secured to said crank-shaft, a driving-shaft provided with a gear-pinion engaging with a gear-wheel on the crank-shaft, a clutch-coupling mounted on the driving-shaft, and a clutch-lever engaging with the gear-wheel of the crank-shaft, whereby the latter is u ncoupled from the driving-shaft,substantially as set forth.

14. Inabending-machine,thecombination,

with the side frames A A, and a follower supported in vertical openings formed in said frames, and carrying a saddle and clamping jaws adapted to hold the center portion of a brace-rod, of cross-heads arranged on opposite sides of said clamping-jaws and adapted to hold the ends of said brace-rod, a crankshaft journaled in bearings secured to saidside frames, rods connecting the cranks of said shaft with the follower, a gear-wheel secured to said crank-shaft, a driving-shaft provided with a gear-pinion engaging with the gear-Wheel on the crank-shaft, a clutch-coupling mounted on the driving-shaft, a clutchlever engaging with the gear-wheel on the crank-shaft, whereby the latter is uncoupled from the driving-shaft, and atreadle and con- 11 ecting-levers,whereby the clutch-coupling is actuated and the crank-shaft coupled with the driving-shaft, substantially as set forth.

15. In abending-machine, the combination, with the side frames A A, and the shaft 0, jouinaled in, bearings secured to said side frames and provided with a cam K, of the cross-heads H H, supported upon rods H secured to said side frames, rock-levers J J pivoted at their lower ends to said cross-heads and provided at their upper ends with anti-friction rollers 01, mounted in adjustable bearings secured to the upper ends of said rocklevers and bearing against opposite sides of the cam K, substantially as set forth.

16. In a bending-machine, the combination, I

WVitness my hand this 19th day of June, I

LEWIS C. WILCOX. \Vitnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER,

F. O. GEYER. 

